Crash box for a bumper

Abstract

The invention relates to a crash box (3) comprising two generally U-shaped members (11, 12) having legs (11a, 12a) and provided at respective leg with at least two adjacent trigger means (13) and an intermediate portion (14) formed between said trigger means (13). The U-shaped members (11, 12) is welded together at areas along a trim edge (15) except for the trim edge (15) formed between respective legs of respective trigger means (13) so as to form a crash box (3) having aligned trigger means (13) and intermediate portion (14). The trigger means (13) are arranged normal to crash box (3), and the intermediate portion (14) of respective leg (11a, 12a) is welded together at the trim edge (15) thereof by a weld bead (20) having a length (L) which is longer that the shortest length (1) between two adjacent trigger means (13). The invention also relates to a method for producing such a crash box.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A crash box comprising two generally U-shaped members, one upper and one lower member, having legs and provided at each respective leg with at least two adjacent trigger means and an intermediate portion formed between said trigger means, said upper and lower members being welded together at areas along a trim edge of the respective legs of the U-shaped members except for the trim edge formed between respective legs of respective trigger means so as to form a generally hollow crash box extending in a longitudinal direction, said crash box having a cross-section in the form of a quadrangle and having aligned trigger means and an intermediate portion, said trigger means being arranged normal to said longitudinal direction, wherein the intermediate portion of the respective leg is welded together at the trim edge thereof by a weld bead,
 wherein said weld bead extends between said aligned trigger means at least partly at an angle relative to said longitudinal direction, such that said weld beam has a length which is longer than the shortest length between two adjacent trigger means. 
 
     
     
       2. The crash box according to  claim 1 , wherein the weld bead is linear or non-linear. 
     
     
       3. The crash box according to  claim 2 , wherein said weld bead is a linear weld bead having an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal direction of between 20° to 70°. 
     
     
       4. The crash box according to  claim 2 , wherein said weld bead has the shape of a horizontal or inclined S. 
     
     
       5. The crash box according to  claim 2 , wherein said weld bead has the shape of a curve. 
     
     
       6. Method for producing a crash box comprising two generally U-shaped members, one upper and one lower member, having legs and provided at each respective leg with at least two adjacent trigger means and an intermediate portion formed between said trigger means, said upper and lower members being welded together at areas along a trim edge of the respective legs of the U-shaped members except for the trim edge formed between respective legs of respective trigger means so as to form a generally hollow crash box extending in a longitudinal direction, said crash box having a cross-section in the form of a quadrangle and having aligned trigger means and an intermediate portion, said trigger means being arranged normal to said longitudinal direction, wherein the intermediate portion of respective leg is welded together at the trim edge thereof by a weld bead,
 wherein said weld bead extends between said aligned trigger means at least partly at an angle relative to said longitudinal direction, such that said weld beam is formed with a length which is longer than the shortest length between two adjacent trigger means.